Vehicle door lock



1954 B. J. CRAIG VEHICLE DOOR LOCK Filed Spt. 18, 1950 INVENTOR.

MI I 4 5 I I 74 9 4 44 i n b\s /4 Patented Aug. 17, 1954 UNITED STATES?ATENT OFFICE VEHICLE noon LOCK Burnie J. Craig, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 18, 1950, Serial No. 185,414

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a latch.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicledoor latch including novel lock means for controlling the latch on adoor of an automotive vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide door latching meansincluding a novel lock means which is operable in a novel manner tounlock the latch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel door latch handleassembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combinedkey-controlled and dial actu ated tumbler controlled lock assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel push buttonoperated latch release member and latch lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel push button latchrelease member including a novel keyless actuated locking member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch locking meanswherein a push button actuated key lock member is provided and wherein adial actuated tumbler member is mounted coaxial with the push buttonmember.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door latchhandle assembly which carries push button means for operatinga doorlatch to released position and wherein a plurality of means is carriedby the handle for rendering the push button member inoperative to openthe door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken through an automotive doorandpillar, showing the present invention in plan;

Fig. 2 is a section through a vehicle door and pillar, showing a portionof the latch;

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view through the handle, showing theoperating parts;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4,.Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation with parts in section, showing theoperation of the unlocking means;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the modification;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 88, Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line 99, Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing parts of themodification of Fig. 6 in another position.

Referring to. the drawing by reference characters, the invention isshown as embodied in a door latch A arranged upon a door B of a vehicle.

As shown, the latch includes a base plate I0, having a pivoted bolt llthereon. The bolt supports a strike engaging roller [2 upon its outerend. The latches in the present disclosures are like the latches shownin applicants copending application Serial No. 103,431, filed July '7,1949, now Patent No. 2,659,230, dated November 1'7, 1953.

The protruding roller 12 moves in a slot [3 in a strike it arranged uponthe vehicle pillar M The slot I3 is inclined (not shown) so that as eachvehicle door closes its associated roller moves into the open end of theslot l3 and towards fully engaged position behind a position of the wallof the slot.

To hold thebolt in this engaged position and thereby hold the doorclosed, a catch member 15 (Fig. 2) 'is pivotally supported upon the baseit. The catch member I5 may be released by a latch releasing member [6which is slidable on a carriage member ll. When moved in one direction apin [8 on the latch releasing member engages and rocks the catch memberto free the bolt.

The carriage member I! is pivoted as at I9 011 the base it. One end ofthe carriage member is raised as at 20 and a snap-over spring 2'] isarranged between this raised portion and the base It] to hold thecarriage member in either one of its two positions.

The carriage member I? includes a projecting end22 which is cylindricalto support a roller 23.

The releasing member and the carriage member are like the membersdescribed in my patent, mentioned above, and a further descriptionthereof seems unnecessary.

The releasing member [6 is operated by a releasing arm 25 which is inthe nature of a bell crank and is shown as pivoted at 26 upon the baseIt. One arm of the bell crank engages in a slot 21 in the releasingmember while the other portion of the bell crank 2'! is engaged by atongue 21 on an actuating member 28 which is carried by an outsideactuator indicated generally at 3!). The outside actuator is similar tothe handle assembly disclosed in applicant's prior patent, mentionedabove.

As shown, the outside actuator or handle assembly 30 includes a body 3|which has a handle grip member 32 thereon. The body 3| may be held inplace by means of a slip plate 33 which engages the body 3| and thedoor.

The body 3| has a chamber 34 and at one end of the chamber has anenlarged bore 35. At the inner end the body is open and enlarged as at36 to receive a closure 31 which is held in place against rotation by atight fit and by a split ring 38. The closure 3'! engages the end ofcollar 39 which has an internal flange 49 there- The body 3| has abore4| which receives the tubular dial body 42. The body 42 has a fingerengaging head portion 43 slidably mounted thereon. A pin 43 on the headportion working ina slot 43 in the dial body 42 limits axial movement ofthe head portion. The dialbody 42 includes a sleeve 43 which rotatablyengages the flange 40. The sleeve 43 has an integral tumbler 44 thereon.Concentric with the tumbler 44, I provide tumblers 45 and 4B which arefree to rotate about the sleeve 43. The tumblers have the usual tumblerpins 4? thereon.

The tumblers are shown as spaced apart by collars 48 which are annularand integral with the tumblers. Tumbler locks of this type are commonand well known and a further description is believed unnecessary.

The body 3| (see Fig. 3) is provided with spaced tongues| which supporta'shaft 52. The shaft 52 supports an arm 53, normally urged to the fullline position in Fig. 3 by a spring 55. The arm 53 has one end extendingthrough a hole 56 in the closure 31.

In operation rotation of the dial head 43 will cause the pin 43 torotate the sleeve 43 and the tumbler 44, whereupon the pins on thistumbler will rotate the tumbler 46 and the pins of the tumbler 46 willrotate the tumbler 45.

Each tumbler is provided with a notch 60, which may receive the arm 53.The construction is such that after the head-portion 43 of the dial hasrotated the tumblers and'the correct positioning has taken place, thearm 53 will be aligned with the notches B0 and in position to move intothe notches 60.

The tubular dial body 42 and sleeve 43 receive a lock barrel-5| whichincludes a push button end 62. The push button end extends through ahole 63 in the dial head. The details of the tumbler lock'formno part ofthe present invention as such locks are common and in well known use.The construction is such that when akey 64 is inserted in the barrel 6|and is rotated, suitable pins (not shown) will be aligned, permittingthe key to turn a head member 65 relative to the look barrel in eitherdirection from a normal neutral position. The head member is connectedto and rotates the actuating arm 28 carried by the head member andpreviously mentioned.

Shouldersfifi and 6! on the barrel 6| and the dial body limit the outermovement of the lock barrel. A spring-68 normally urges the lock barreloutwardly.

In order to prevent rotation of the lock barrel 5|,the latter is shownas provided with a rod which passes through-a hole H in the fixedclosure 31.

v The push button may be operated at'any time to cause inward movementof the head member 68 and the actuating member 28 carried by the headmember to thereby rock the bell crank member to cause the latter tomove-the release member IE to bolt-releasingposition. Ifthecarriagemember I1 is in unlocked condition, this operation will cause therelease member to release the bolt. If the carriage member H is inlocked position, the push button and actuating member 28 will moveinwardly without effect.

The key 64 may be inserted and the lock barrel may be rotated to turnthe member 28 clockwise or counterclockwise and to cause the inner endof the member 28 to rotate about the axis of the lock barrel to thuscause the locking arm to be raised or lowered, in other words, move tounlocked or locked position. The lock barrel being keyed by the rod lilto the fixed partition 31, rotation of the lock barrel is prevented.

From the description it will be apparent that a person with a proper keycould rotate the lock barrel and operating member 23 to move thecarriage member to unlocked position.

To perform the unlocking operation without rotating the lock barrel andwithout use of a key, the dial head 43 is rotated to correctly positionthe tumblers. The arm 53 will then be aligned with the notches 68 sothat thereupon, when the dial 43'is pushed inwardly, a cam surface illthereon will engage a cam surface 10 on the arm 53 so that the arm willbe rotated about the pivot 52, causing it to enter the notches 6|].

The arm 53 includes an unlocking end portion 12 which passes through thelatch base plate I0 and terminates just short of the locking member ll(Fig. 5). The end 12 is provided with slopin cam surfaces '13 which areadapted to engage either the upper or lower curved surfaces 14 of a cam15 secured to the carriage member H. When the arm 53 is rocked by thedial head moving inwardly the cam surfaces engaging the cam 15' willcause the carriage member to move from a locked or.unlocked position,depending upon its original position. So as to insure the carriagemember passing over its center, the cam 15 is provided with a slightcentral dwell 18. A quick inward push of the dial head 43 will, clue tothe inertia of the moving parts, cause the dwell portion 16 to moveacross the adjacent part of the cam 73, whereupon the over center spring2| completes the movement of the member ll.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 a modification is shown. In the modification mostof the parts are like those previously described and are designated bysingle primed reference characters. In the modification the arm 53' ispivotally supported at 52 to ears 99 arranged on an annular ring 9|rotatably supported on the dial body 43'. A split ring 92 retains thering 9| in position.

The body portion 3| is provided with a slot 93 which serves to engagethe arm 53' to thus normally hold the arm 53' and the ring 9| againstrelative rotation. A spring 55 normally urges the arm 53 towards thetumblers.

The operation of the modification is similar to that of the first typedescribed. In the type of Fig. 3 the arm 53 is normally urged away fromthe notches 60 by the spring 55. In the modification of Fig. 6 the arm53 is normally urged towards the notches 60 by the spring 55. When thenotches are aligned the spring 55 will move the arm 53 into the notches55' and the arm 53 will be withdrawn from engagement in the slot 93 andat the same time that the notches 60 are aligned the end 18' or the arm53 will be aligned with a notch 94 in the'outer periphery of the dialbody 43' as shown in Fig. 10 so that the dial body may be moved-inwardlywhen the arm 53' enters the slots 69' in the tumblers 45, 46' and 41".The end 12' of. the arm will take the broken line position shown in Fig.7. The free end of the dial body 43 may be engaged by the fingers andturned.

After the arm 53' is so moved, rotation of the dial body 43 will rotatethe arm 53' about the axis of the dial body. The end 12 of'the arm 53will then be in the broken line position of Fig. 7 and will engage oneof a pair of tongues 95 on the carriage H to rock this arm. The arm 53moves in an arcuate slot 96 and the walls of the slot limit movement ofthe arm 53.

To jumble the'tumblers after the device has been operated, the body 43will be given a quick turn, causing the arm 53 to cam out of the slopingslots 60'.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the inventiondisclosed herein provides a handle assembly wherein the latch may bereleased by a push button member and that key operated means permitslocking and unlocking. Also, that provision is made whereby a dialoperated tumbler lock, herein shown for convenience of illustration ascoaxial with the push button,

permits the look, if in locked condition, to be unlocked while the keyoperated lock remains locked.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a vehicle door lock,a chambered body, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movablefence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a

dial for rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positionedwith respect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enterthe gatings of the tumblers, acatch releasing member movable to and froma position wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, anactuating portion movable with the fence, means operable by theactuating portion to move the catch releasing member to the positionwherein it may be moved to catch releasing'posi- 2. In a vehicle doorlock, a chambered bodyfa fixed support carried by the body, a lockbarrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotation relative to thesupport while permitting reciprocation of the lock barrel with respectto the support, a head member within the lock barrel, key released meansnormally preventing relative rotation between the head member and thelock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, a movable fencecooperating with the gated tume blers, a dial for rotating the tumblerswhereby the tumblers may be positioned with respect to one another andto the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings of the tumblers, acatch releasing member movable to and from a position wherein it may bemoved toa catch releasing position, an actuating portion movable withthe fence and operable to move the catch releasing member to theposition wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, meansoperated by movement of the dial when the tumbler gatings are inalignment with the fence to move the fence and thereby to move the catchreleasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catchreleasing position, an actuating member for the catch releasing member,said actuating member being rotatable with the head member and lockbarrel and means to move the actuating member so as to shift the catchreleasing member to its catch releasing position. a

3. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered body, gated tumblers rotatable inthe chambena movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dialfor rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect. to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter thegatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from aposition wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, anactuating arm movable with the fence and operable to move the catchreleasing member to the position wherein it may be moved to catchreleasing position, means operated by axial movement of the dial whenthe tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence to move the fenceand thereby to move the catch releasing member to the position whereinit may be moved to catch releasing position, an actuating member for thecatch releasing member and means to move the actuating member so as toshift the catch releasing member to its catch releasing position. 7

4. In a vehicle door look,- a chambered body, a fixed support carried bythe body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotationrelative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lockbarrel with respect to the sup port, a head member within the lockbarrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation betweenthe head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in thechamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial forrotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter thegatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member, a movable carriagesupporting the catch releasing member, the carriage'being shiftable tomove the catch releasing member to and from a position wherein it may bemoved to a catch releasing position, an actuating arm movable with thefence and operable 'to move the carriage to the position wherein thecatchreleasing member may be moved to catch releasing position, meansoperated by axial movement of the dial when the tumbler gatings are inalignment with the fence to move the fence into said gatings and to movethe carriage to the position wherein the catch releasing member may bemoved to catch releasing position, the lock barrel including a pushbutton slidable within said dial, and an actuating member for thecarriage and for the catch releasing member on the head member androtatable With the head member and lock barrel to shift the carriage toposition the catch releasing member in position to be moved to catchreleasing position, the actuating member being operable by the pushbutton to move the catch releasing member to its catch releasingposition.

5. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered body, a fixed support carried bythe body, a lock barrel, means holdingthe lock barrel against rotationrelative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lockbarrel on the support, a head tumblers may be positioned with respect toone another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter the gatings ofthe tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from a position.wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, an actuatingportion movable with the-fence and operable to move the catch re.-leasing. member to the position wherein it may be moved to catchreleasing position, means to couple the dial to the fence when thetumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence, means operable byrotation of the dial when coupled to the fence to move the fence andthereby move the catchreleasing member to the position wherein it-v maybemoved to catch releasing position, and an actuating member for thecatch releasing member'on the head member and means to move theactuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member to catchreleasing position.

6-. Ina vehicle door lock, a chambered body, a fi'xed support carried bythe body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotationrelative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lockbarrel onthe support, a head member- Within the lock barrel, keyreleased means normally preventing relative rotation between the headmember and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, amovable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member forrotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter'thegatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member, a movable carriagesupporting the catch releasing member, the carriage being shiftable: tomove the catch releasing member to and from a position wherein it may bemoved to a catch releasing position, an actuating portion movablewiththe fence and operable to move the carriage'so that the catch releasingmember is in the position wherein it may be moved to catch releasingposition, means to couple the dial to the fence when the tumbler gatingsare in alignment with the fence, means operable when the dial iscoupledto'thefence to move the fence and thereby move the carriage andthe catch releasing member to the position wherein the catchreleasingmember may be moved to catch releasing position; the lockbarrel including an actuating member for" the catch releasing member,and means to-mov'e. the actuating member so as to shift the catchreleasing member to its catch releasing position.

'7; Ina vehicle door look, a chambered body, a fixed support carried bythe body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotationrelative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lockbarrel on the support, a head member within the lock barrel, keyreleased means normally preventing relative rotation between the'headmember and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in the chamber, amovable fence-cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial member forrotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter thegatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member, a movable carriagesupporting the catch releasing member, the carriage being shiftable tomove the catch releasing member to and .8 from a position; wherein itmay be moved, to. a catch, releasing position, an. actuating" portionmovable with the fence'and operable to move the carriage so that thecatch releasing member is in the position wherein it may be moved tocatch releasing position, means to couple the dial to the fence when thetumbler gatings are in alignment with the fence and means operated byrotation of the dial when coupled to the fence to move the fence andthereby move the carriage and the catch releasing member to the positionwherein the catch releasing member may be moved to catch releasingposition, the lockbarrel including a push button slidable within thedial head, an actuating member for the catch releasing member on thehead member, the actuating member being operable by the push button tomove the actuating member so as to shift the catch releasing member toits catch releasing position.

8. In a vehicle door look, a chambered body, gated tumblers rotatable inthe chamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dialfor rotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter thegatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from aposition wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, anactuating portion movable with the fence, means operable by theactuating portion to move the catch releasing member to the positionwherein it may be moved to catch releasing position, and dial operatedmeans effective when the tumbler gatings are in alignment with the fenceto move the fence and thereby to move the catch releasing member to theposition wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position.

9. In a vehicle door lock, a chambered. body, a fixed support carried bythe body, a lock barrel, means holding the lock barrel against rotationrelative to the support while permitting reciprocation of the lockbarrel with respect to the support, a head member within the lockbarrel, key released means normally preventing relative rotation betweenthe head member and the lock barrel, gated tumblers rotatable in thechamber, a movable fence cooperating with the gated tumblers, a dial forrotating the tumblers whereby the tumblers may be positioned withrespect to one another and to the fence to allow the fence to enter thegatings of the tumblers, a catch releasing member movable to and from aposition wherein it may be moved to a catch releasing position, anactuating portion movable with the fence and operable to move the catch.releasing member to the position whereinit may be moved to catchreleasing position, and dial operated means to move the fence andactuating portion to thereby move the catch releasing member to theposition wherein it may be moved to catch releasing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 300,868 Hill June 24, 1884 1,665,990 Soley Apr. 10, 19281,670,042 Mott May 15, 1928 2,129,228 Miller Sept. 6, 1938 (an N

